Compare towns
Ware vs Spencer vs Petersham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Spencer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.6%).
Petersham has the highest household income ($111k).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Ware | Spencer | Petersham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,048 |
12,008Highest |
1,185Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.7Lowest 8% above MA |
48.9±6.8 22% above MA |
56.3±2.7Highest 41% above MA |
| Petersham and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
12.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Ware and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26%±4.4 MA: 17.9% |
30.5%±4.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Petersham and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
29.1% MA: 47.3% |
42.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Spencer and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$80,533±$11k 23% below MA |
$110,750±$20kHighest 7% above MA |
| Petersham and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$382,000±$22k 32% below MA |
$392,400±$20kHighest 30% below MA |
| Petersham and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,078±$161 39% below MA |
$1,679±$441Highest 5% below MA |
| Petersham and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
$4,387 27% below MA |
$4,636Highest 23% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±10.3 MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
11% MA: 10% |
8.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3% MA: 62.5% |
63%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest about the MA average |
34 min 18% above MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
15%±7.3 MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Petersham and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #267 of 282 in MA | #261 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Ware | Spencer-E Brookfield | Petersham |
| High school in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | David Prouty High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
9.9Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.